NorwasBianconiwithouthonourinhisadoptedcountry。Hebeganhisgreatenterprisein1815，thoughitwasnotuntil1831thatheobtainedlettersofnaturalisation。HisapplicationfortheseprivilegeswassupportedbythemagistratesofTipperaryandbytheGrandJury，andtheywereatoncegranted。In1844hewaselectedMayorofClonmel，andtookhisseatasChairmanattheBoroughPettySessionstodispensejustice。
ThefirstpersonbroughtbeforehimwasJamesRyan，whohadbeendrunkandtornaconstable’sbelt。“Well，Ryan，“saidthemagistrate，“whathaveyoutosay？““Nothing，yourworship；onlyIwasn’tdrunk。““Whotoretheconstable’sbelt？““HewasbloatedafterhisChristmasdinner，yourworship，andthebeltburst！““Youaresoverypleasant，“saidthemagistrate，“thatyouwillhavetospendforty-eighthoursingaol。“
Hewasre-electedMayorinthefollowingyear，verymuchagainsthiswish。Henowbegantobuyland，for“landhunger“wasstronguponhim。In1846heboughttheestateofLongfield，intheparishofBoherlahan，countyofTipperary。Itconsistedofaboutathousandacresofgoodland，withalargecheerfulhouseoverlookingtheriverSuir。Hewentonbuyingmoreland，untilhebecamepossessorofabouteightthousandEnglishacres。
Oneofhisfavouritesayingswas:“Moneymelts，butlandholdswhilegrassgrowsandwaterruns。“Hewasanexcellentlandlord，builtcomfortablehousesforhistenantry，anddidwhathecouldfortheirimprovement。Withoutsolicitation，theGovernmentappointedhimajusticeofthepeaceandaDeputy-lientenantforthecountyofTipperary。Everythingthathedidseemedtothrive。Hewashonest，straightforward，loyal，andlaw-abiding。
OnfirsttakingpossessionofhisestateatLongfield，hewasmetbyaprocessionofthetenantry，whoreceivedhimwithgreatenthusiasm。Inhisaddresstothem，hesaid，amongstotherthings:“Allowmetoimpressuponyouthegreatimportanceofrespectingthelaws。Thelawsaremadeforthegoodandthebenefitofsociety，andforthepunishmentofthewicked。Noonebutanenemywouldcounselyoutooutragethelaws。Aboveallthings，avoidsecretandunlawfulsocieties。Muchoftheimprovementnowgoingonamongstusisowingtothetemperatehabitsofthepeople，tothemissionofmymuchrespectedfriend，FatherMathew，andtotheadviceoftheLiberator。FollowtheadviceofO’Connell；betemperate，moral，peaceable；andyouwilladvanceyourcountry，ameliorateyourcondition，andtheblessingofGodwillattendallyourefforts。“
BianconiwasalwaysagreatfriendofO’Connell。FromanearlyperiodhejoinedhimintheCatholicEmancipationmovement。HetookpartwithhiminfoundingtheNationalBankinIreland。Incourseoftimethetwobecamemoreintimatelyrelated。
Bianconi’ssonmarriedO’Connell’sgranddaughter；andO’Connell’snephew，MorganJohn，marriedBianconi’sdaughter。Bianconi’ssondiedin1864，leavingthreedaughters，butnomaleheirtocarryonthefamilyname。Theoldmanboretheblowofhisson’sprematuredeathwithfortitude，andlaidhisremainsinthemortuarychapel，whichhebuiltonhisestateatLongfield。
Inthefollowingyear，whenhewasseventy-eight，hemetwithasevereaccident。Hewasoverturned，andhisthighwasseverelyfractured。Hewaslaidupforsixmonths，quiteincapableofstirring。Hewasafterwardsabletogetaboutinamarvellousway，thoughquitecrippled。Ashislife’sworkwasover，hedeterminedtoretirefinallyfrombusiness；andhehandedoverthewholeofhiscars，coaches，horses，andplant，withallthelinesofroadhewasthenworking，tohisemployes，onthemostliberalterms。
MyyoungestsonmetMr。Bianconi，byappointment，attheRomanCatholicchurchatBoherlahan，inthesummerof1872。Althoughtheoldgentlemanhadtobeliftedintoandoutofhiscarriagebyhistwomen-servants，hewasstillasactive-mindedasever。
ClosetothechurchatBoherlahanisBianconi’smortuarychapel，whichhebuiltasasortofhobby，forthelastresting-placeofhimselfandhisfamily。Thefirstpersoninterredinitwashiseldestdaughter，whodiedinItaly；thesecondwashisonlyson。
Abeautifulmonumentwithabas-reliefhasbeenerectedinthechapelbyBenzoni，anItaliansculptor，tothememoryofhisdaughter。
“Aswewereleavingthechapel，“mysoninformsme，“wepassedalongIrishcarcontainingaboutsixteenpeople，thetenantsofMr。Bianconi，whoarebroughtathisexpensefromallpartsoftheestate。Heisverypopularwithhistenantry，regardingtheirinterestsashisown；andheoftenquotesthewordsofhisfriendMr。Drummond，that’propertyhasitsdutiesaswellasitsrights。’HehasrebuiltnearlyeveryhouseonhisextensiveestatesinTipperary。
“Onourwayhome，thecarriagestoppedtoletmedownandseethestrangeremainsofanancientfort，closebytheroadside。Itconsistsofahighgrass-grownmound，surroundedbyamoat。Itisoneoftheso-calledDanishforts，whicharefoundinallpartsofIreland。IfitbetruethatthesefortswereerectedbytheDanes，theymustatonetimehavehadastrongholdofthegreaterpartofIreland。
“Thecarriageenteredanobleavenueoftrees，withviewsofprettilyenclosedgardensoneitherside。Mr。Bianconiexclaimed，’WelcometotheCarman’sStage！’LongfieldHouse，whichweapproached，isafineold-fashionedhouse，situatedontheriverSuir，afewmilessouthofCashel，oneofthemostancientcitiesinIreland。Mr。Bianconiandhisfamilyweremosthospitable；andIfoundhimmostlivelyandcommunicative。Hetalkedcleverlyandwithexcellentchoiceoflanguageforaboutthreehours，duringwhichIlearntmuchfromhim。
“Likemostmenwhohaveaccomplishedgreatthings，andovercomemanydifficulties，Mr。Bianconiisfondofreferringtothepasteventsinhisinterestinglife。Theacutenessofhisconversationiswonderful。Hehitsoffakeenthoughtinafewwords，sometimesfullofwitandhumour。Ithoughtthisverygood:’Keepbeforethewheels，youngman，ortheywillrunoveryou:alwayskeepbeforethewheels！’HereadovertomethememoirhehadpreparedatthesuggestionofMr。Drummond，relatingtotheeventsofhisearlylife；andthisopenedthewayforagreatmanyotherrecollectionsnotsetdowninthebook。
“Hevividlyrememberedthepartingfromhismother，nearlyseventyyearsago，andspokeofherlastwordstohim:’Whenyourememberme，thinkofmeaswaitingatthiswindow，watchingforyourreturn。’Thisledhimtospeakofthegreatforgetfulnessandwantofrespectwhichchildrenhavefortheirparentsnowadays。’Weseem，’hesaid，’tohavefallenuponadisrespectfulage。’
“’Itisstrange，’saidhe，’howlittlethingsinfluenceone’smindandcharacter。WhenIwasaboyatWaterford，Iboughtanoldsecond-handbookfromamanonthequay，andthemaximonitstitle-pagefixeditselfdeeplyonmymemory。Itwas，“Truth，likewater，willfinditsownlevel。“’AndthisledhimtospeakofthegreatinfluencewhichtheexampleandinstructionofMr。
Rice，oftheChristianBrothers，hadhaduponhismindandcharacter。’Thatreligionsinstitution，’saidhe，’ofwhichMr。
Ricewasoneofthefounders，hasnowspreaditselfoverthecountry，and，bymeansoftheinstructionwhichthemembershaveimpartedtothepoorerignorantclasses，theyhaveeffectedquitearevolutioninthesouthofIreland。’
“’Iamnotmuchofareader，’saidMr。Bianconi；’thebestpartofmyreadinghasconsistedinreadingway-bills。ButIwasoncecomplimentedbyJusticeLefroyuponmybooks。HeremarkedtomewhatawonderfuleducationImusthavehadtoinventmyownsystemofbook-keeping。Yes，’saidhe，pointingtohisledgers，’theretheyare。’Thebooksarestillpreserved，recordingtheprogressofthegreatcarenterprise。Theyshowatfirstthesmallbeginnings，andthentherapidgrowth——thetensgrowingtohundreds，andthehundredstothousands——theledgersandday-bookscontaining，asitwere，thewholehistoryoftheundertaking——ofeachcar，ofeachman，ofeachhorse，andofeachlineofroad，recordedmostminutely。
“’Thesecretofmysuccess，’saidhe，’hasbeenpromptitude，fairdealing，andgoodhumour。AndthisIwilladd，whatIhaveoftensaidbefore，thatIneverdidakindactionbutitwasreturnedtometenfold。Mycarshaveneverreceivedtheslightestinjuryfromthepeople。Thoughtravellingthroughthecountryforaboutsixtyyears，thepeoplehavethroughoutrespectedthepropertyintrustedtome。Mycarshavepassedthroughlonelyandunfrequentedplaces，andtheyhavenever，eveninthemostdisturbedtimes，beenattacked。That，Ithink，isanextraordinarytestimonytothehighmoralcharacteroftheIrishpeople。’
“’Itisnotmoney，butthegeniusofmoneythatIesteem，’saidBianconi；’notmoneyitself，butmoneyusedasacreativepower。’
AndhehimselfhasfurnishedinhisownlifethebestpossibleillustrationofhismaximHecreatedanewindustry，gaveemploymenttoanimmensenumberofpersons，promotedcommerce，extendedcivilisation；and，thoughaforeigner，provedoneofthegreatestofIreland’sbenefactors。“
Abouttwoyearsafterthedateofmyson’svisit，CharlesBianconipassedaway，fullofyearsandhonours；andhisremainswerelaidbesidethoseofhissonanddaughter，inthemortuarychapelatBoherlahan。Hediedin1875，inhisninetiethyear。
WellmightSignorHenricoMayersay，attheBritishAssociationatCorkin1846，that“hefeltproudasanItaliantohearacompatriotsodeservedlyeulogised；andalthoughIrelandmightclaimBianconiasacitizen，yettheItaliansshouldeverwithpridehailhimasacountryman，whoseindustryandvirtuereflectedhonouronthecountryofhisbirth。“
FootnotesforChapterIX。
Thisarticleoriginallyappearedin’GoodWords。’A
biographyofCharlesBianconi，byhisdaughter，Mrs。MorganJohnO’Connell，hassincebeenpublished；buttheabovearticleisthoughtworthyofrepublication，asitscontentswereforthemostparttakenprincipallyfromMr。Bianconi’sownlips。
MinutesofEvidencetakenbeforetheSelectCommitteeonPostageSecondReport，1838，p。284。
[EvidencebeforetheSelectCommitteeonPostage，1838。
Hall’s’Ireland，’ii。76。
PaperreadbeforetheBritishAssociationatCork，1843。
“TheIrishpeoplehaveapasttoboastof，andafuturetocreate。“——J。F。O’Carrol。
“OneofthegreatquestionsishowtofindanoutletforIrishmanufactures。Weoughttobeanexportingnation，orweneverwillbeabletocompetesuccessfullywithourtraderivals。“——E。
D。Gray。
“IrelandmaybecomeaNationagain，ifweallsacrificeourparricidalpassions，prejudices，andresentmentsonthealtarofourcountry。Thenshallyourmanufacturesflourish，andIrelandbefree。“——DanielO’Connell。
Furthercommunicationspassedbetweenmyyoungfriend，theItaliancount，andhisfather；andtheresultwasthatheaccompaniedmetoIreland，ontheexpressunderstandingthathewastosendhomealetterdailybypostassuringhisfriendsofhissafety。WewenttogetheraccordinglytoGalway，upLoughCorribtoCongandLoughMask；bytheromanticlakesandmountainsofConnemaratoClifdenandLetterfrack，andthroughthelovelypassofKylemoortoLeenane；alongthefiordofKillury；thenon，byWestportandBallinatoSligo。Letterswereposteddailybymyyoungfriend；andeverydaywewentforwardsinsafety。
Buthowlonelywasthecountry！WedidnotmeetasingleAmericantouristduringthewholecourseofourvisit，andtheAmericansarethemosttravellingpeopleintheworld。AlthoughtherailwaycompanieshavegiveneveryfacilityforvisitingConnemaraandthesceneryoftheWestofIreland，weonlymetonesingleEnglishtourist，accompaniedbyhisdaughter。TheBianconilongcarbetweenClifdenandWestporthadbeentakenoffforwantofsupport。TheonlypersonswhoseemedtohavenofearofIrishagrarianismweretheEnglishanglers，whoarereadytobravealldangers，imaginaryorsupposed，providedtheycanonlykillabigsalmon！AndalltheriversflowingwestwardintotheAtlanticarefulloffinefish。WhileatGalway，welookeddownintotheriverCorribfromtheUpperBridge，andbehelditliterallyblackwiththebacksofsalmon！TheywerewaitingforafloodtoenablethemtoascendtheladderintoLoughCorrib。
Whilethere，1900salmonweretakeninonedaybynetsinthebay。
Galwayisadecliningtown。Ithasdocks，butnoshipping；
bondedwarehouses，butnocommerce。IthasacommunityoffishermenatCladdagh，butthefisheriesofthebayareneglected。Asoneofthepoormenoftheplaceexclaimed，“PovertyisthecurseofIreland。“OnlookingatGalwayfromtheCladdaghside，itseemsasiftohavesufferedfromabombardment。Wherearoofhasfallenin，nothinghasbeendonetorepairit。Itwasofnouse。Theruinhasbeenlefttogoon。Themills，whichusedtogrindhome-growncorn，arenowunemployed。ThecorncomesreadygroundfromAmerica。Nothingisthoughtofbutemigration，andthebestpeoplearegoing，leavingtheold，theweak，andtheinefficientathome。“Thelabourer，“saidthelatePresidentGarfield，“hasbutonecommoditytosell——hisday’swork，itishissolereliance。Hemustsellitto-day，oritislostfor-ever。“AndasthepoorIrishmancannotsellhisday’slabour，hemustneedsemigratetosomeothercountry，wherehisonlycommoditymaybeindemand。
WhileatGalway，IreadwithinterestaneloquentspeechdeliveredbyMr。ParnellatthebanquetheldintheGreatHalloftheExhibitionatCork。Mr。Parnellasked，withmuchreason，whymanufacturesshouldnotbeestablishedandencouragedintheSouthofIreland，asinotherpartsofthecountry。Whyshouldnotcapitalbeinvested，andfactoriesandworkshopsdeveloped，throughthelengthandbreadthofthekingdom？“Iconfess，“hesaid，“IshouldliketogiveIrelandafairopportunityofworkingherhomemanufactures。Wecaneachoneofusdomuchtorevivetheancientnameofournationinthoseindustrialpursuitswhichhavedonesomuchtoincreaseandrendergloriousthosegreaternationsbythesideofwhichwelive。Itrustthatbeforemanyyearsareoverweshallhavethehonourandpleasureofmeetinginevenamoresplendidpalacethanthis，andofseeingintheintervalthatthequick-wittedgeniusoftheIrishracehasprofitedbythelessonswhichthisbeautifulExhibitionmustundoubtedlyteach，andthatmuchwillhavebeendonetomakeournationhappy，prosperous，andfree。“